Care advice
It is not enough to choose and plant Katarantus correctly. This plant, like any other, requires competent care, without which it will not grow well and will undergo various diseases.
Top dressing
The flowering of the catharanthus will be longer and more luxuriant if the plant is fed correctly and on time. If the culture belongs to the category of annuals, then it should be fertilized no more than once a week. For this, special complexes are used for flowering indoor flowers. They are bred in clean water for irrigation, based on the instructions that are present on the branded packaging with the product.
You can also use liquid dressings for indoor roses. If the flower is perennial and grows at home, then you will need to feed it a little less often - twice a month will be enough. In this case, it will be necessary to halve the dosage of the introduced components. During the dormant period, when the flowering of the culture stops, feeding does not need to be done at all.
You should not break this rule if you do not want to harm the catharanthus.
Illumination
In order for the seedlings to germinate well, it is recommended to carefully cover it with black polyethylene. You can place a container with seeds in a dark place. As soon as the first shoots appear, the box with shoots will need to be moved to a brighter place. In this case, the polyethylene will need to be removed - it will no longer be useful.
Please note - the lighting must be sufficient and intense.
Temperature
For the correct and lush flowering of this plant, you need to provide it with optimal temperature conditions in the room. While the seedlings are only planted and covered with polyethylene, it is advisable to place it in a place where the temperature does not exceed +25 degrees. As soon as the box with seedlings moves to a more lighted place, the temperature will need to be changed - it should be +18.24 degrees.
Watering
If you want to grow a healthy and beautiful plant, it is especially important to take care of proper watering. Do not forget that this culture loves moisture most of all, so it is advisable to irrigate it periodically.
But try to immediately get rid of standing liquid, especially if the plant is in a pot. If water is collected in the pan, it will need to be quickly drained from there.
In a garden, it is not necessary to fill in the catharanthus - because of this, its roots can rot, and the plant will die. But you do not need to bring the flower to dryness either. Because of this, its leaf blades can begin to curl into small tubes. Of course, this does not mean that the plant has already died, but after that it will urgently need to ensure proper watering.
In cold seasons, watering is reduced.
How to plant?
As mentioned above, growing a catharanthus does not cause much trouble to the owner. But when planting a shrub, a number of features must be taken into account.
When to carry out the procedure and will it survive the winter?
Katarantus is a thermophilic plant, therefore, warm weather is necessary for its cultivation. At temperatures below +10 degrees, there is a risk that the plant will die.
It is possible to plant shrubs in open ground only at temperatures above +20 degrees.
Important! It is necessary to carefully consider the planting time, since even if the temperature outside the window is above +20 degrees, but night frosts or sudden temperature changes are coming, you should postpone planting a plant in a flower bed.For the middle lane, the ideal time for planting is the period - late April-early May
For the middle lane, the ideal time for planting is the period - late April-early May.
Catharanthus bloom lasts from June to September, then you should prepare for wintering. An exotic plant will not be able to survive the winter, so it should not be left outside.
Before the onset of the first frost (around the end of October), you should cut off the branches of the shrub, dig it up with roots and a lump of earth, and place it in a larger pot. The plant should be stored at a temperature of 15-17 degrees Celsius. The next spring, the catharanthus can be transplanted into open ground again.
How to choose a seat?
The duration and abundance of flowering directly depend on whether the planting site was chosen correctly.
Lighting
Catharanthus is a tropical plant, so sunlight is important for it. The more light and warmer it is outside, the more magnificent and brighter the bloom will be.
Excessively bright lighting, as well as intense heat, can harm the plant. For growing catharanthus, preference should be given to an area that is in partial shade.
If it is impossible to plant a shrub in partial shade, then it is necessary to build a shelter, an awning made of plastic film, which will protect the plant from bright sunlight and bad weather.
The soil
The soil for the catharanthus should be chosen:
- permeable;
- loose;
- light;
- breathable;
- enriched with macro and microelements;
- drained;
- non-acidic.
Soil preparation
Before planting the catharanthus in open ground, the ground should be prepared.
To do this, you need to dig up the soil and add to it:
- peat;
- peat and turf land;
- humus;
- expanded clay;
- natural leavening agents, perlite or vermiculite;
- coarse sand;
- several bags with ready-made substrate.
To accelerate the growth and development of the root system, compost can be added to the soil.
Immediately before planting a shrub in open ground, you must:
- Dig a shallow hole into which the catharanthus will be planted.
- Lay a thick layer of drainage on the bottom, which may consist of expanded clay, broken brick, marble chips, pebbles, rubble.
- Sprinkle on top with dug earth.
Methods
Catharanthus can be planted in open ground with seeds, cuttings or a bush. Before choosing a propagation method, you should examine the benefits of each type of planting material.
Seeds
The following advantages can be distinguished from reproduction by seeds of a catharanthus for growing in open ground:
- boarding is possible at any time;
- seedlings sprout quickly and simultaneously;
- low cost of seeds;
- one landing allows about one hundred copies at once;
- no need to replant for wintering.
We talked in more detail about how to grow a catharanthus from seeds on our own here.
Cuttings
Growing by cuttings is very beneficial because:
- does not require large material investments;
- does not require much experience;
- allows you to get an exact copy of the plant you like.
Bush
Bush propagation has the following advantages:
- an already formed plant is planted;
- adaptation of the bush to a new place is easier;
- the plant blooms already this year.
Plant at the end of December
Where to get seeds
The most acceptable, quality-guaranteeing option is to buy branded seed bags
Here you will receive exactly the flowers that are shown in the photo.
You can collect seeds from the nearest bush, but in this case, no one guarantees the maternal color, especially when it comes to hybrids
When to plant
This culture grows slowly, before the warm season comes and the catharanthus goes to bloom in a flower bed in the garden, it takes 3 to 5 months, so I recommend planting seedlings in late December, early January.
If planted in early spring, there is no guarantee that flowering time will be in early summer.
Seedling soil
For flower seedlings, it is better to take a purchased nutrient soil.
To make the soil loose, you can add a little vermiculite, sand or perlite
How many pieces to plant in one pot
In the case of seedlings, it doesn't matter how many seeds you plant in 1 container, because until the plant reaches the flower bed or pot on the windowsill, it will have to dive and transfer.
I plant seeds at intervals of 1 - 1.5 cm, you can plant in continuous rows, there the distance between rows is 2 - 3 cm.Do not forget to make several drainage holes in the container
How to plant
The seeds do not require any preparation, they can be planted immediately, this culture has a germination rate of about 90%.
Pour the soil with warm, settled water, spread the seeds, pour 0.5 - 0.7 mm of soil on top and water again.
Then the container is covered with something and sent to a warm and dark place.
After 2 weeks, sprouts with 2 seven-lobed leaves will appear, after which the container is opened and exposed to the light
Dive
Before picking, the soil should be watered every 2 - 3 days and periodically loosened.
Seeding seedlings from the starting container is performed after the appearance of two true leaves
Water the soil, gently pull the sprout out of the loose soil and transplant into small cups
Transshipment
Transfer from a small glass to a new pot is done after the appearance of 5 - 7 true leaves.
Make a deepening in the soil, take out a seedling, transplant it into the hole and water
Top dressing
After diving, you need to feed it with Nitroammofoskoy (10 g, per 10 liters of water).
After transshipment into large pots, feed with a complex fertilizer with an equal-share formula, if Nitroammofosk, then 16/16/16, if you take the Master, then 18/18/18, etc.
2 months after planting, you need to feed the Ukorinitel with increased phosphorus and Calcinite.
For the prevention of root rot, seedlings can be treated with Previkur (instructions on the package)
Care
The buds begin to form 20 days after germination, the process lasts up to 60 days. At this time, the air humidity should be slightly higher than normal, and the temperature should be 22 - 25 ° C.
Seedlings need to be illuminated for about 18 hours a day, while they should be protected from direct sunlight, the light should be diffused or artificial
How Do I Pick a Good Material?
Catharanthus seeds are sold in many flower shops, and they can also be purchased on the Internet (in addition, most sites have a free delivery system).
When choosing a seed, look not at the beautiful packaging, but at the following criteria:
- the strength of the package, the absence of defects on it;
- the number of seeds and the expiration date.
You need to purchase seeds only in proven specialized stores.
Quality seeds are always large in size, dark brown in color, almost close to black. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that it will be possible to collect the seeds on your own, since in a temperate climate the fruits do not have time to ripen during the summer season.
Description and photos of different varieties
Titanium
Ampel, a curly flower native to Africa, belongs to the periwinkle species. The height of an adult bush is 60 - 75 cm. Differs in abundant flowering, the bushes are small, up to 15 cm, densely cover the surface. Leaves are oblong, oval, holistic in shape, rich green color. It blooms in a bright red color. They have a special aroma.
The variety is thermophilic, it tolerates open sunny plantings well, it also grows well in diffused shade. The soil should be fertilized, light and loose. It reproduces well by seeds. Usually used to decorate balconies and loggias, they are planted in a hanging pots at once in 3 - 4 seedlings for the splendor and wealth of the bush.
Mediterranean
A very common variety, it has many sub-varieties - Mix, White, Rose and others, which differ in colors - red, pink, white and variegated.The bush is undersized, the height of an adult flower is no more than 15 cm. The flower is classified as annual indoor. Shoots are long, branching, grow up to 50 - 60 cm.
Leaves are bright green, medium length. The flowers are large, dense, up to 4 - 5 cm in diameter, bright, saturated shades of red, pink, white. Differs in rapid growth and development, blooms well and profusely, the bush is quickly formed. It reproduces well by seeds, blooms in late spring-early summer, there are varieties that bloom in August. Usually planted in hanging baskets in the garden.
The shoots of the bush are long, reaching 70 cm, curly, each shoot is studded with flowers and leaves. The flowers are pink, pale white, cream, depending on the sub-variety, they are large in size - up to 5 cm. The leaves are dark green in color, decorative.
Propagated by seedlings sown in advance in February. Prefers light, fertile soils, loves moisture, although the variety is resistant to arid climates. The variety is grown in hanging pots and in flower beds, grows well, covering the entire surface of the soil with a bright dense carpet.
Strawberry
A new variety of ampelous catharanthus. An annual plant, it grows as a low-growing shrub, up to 15 - 20 cm high. The stems branch well, grow rapidly, the length of adult shoots is from 50 cm or more. The leaves are oblong, shiny, bright green. The flowers are large, pale pink, with a bright red core, up to 5 cm in diameter. The flowers have 5 rounded petals.
The Strawberry series has a wide variety of shades of pink with a variegated heart. Sowing of seeds is carried out in March - April. Differs in special moisture resistance. Long bloom, begins in May, blooms until September. Recommended to grow in hanging pots, planters on terraces and open planters in the garden.
Pink
Natural varieties grow in Madagascar, Indochina, Cuba. The variety belongs to evergreen dwarf shrubs. It grows in height up to 50 - 60 cm. Stems branch, erect.
Leaves are oblong, petioles are short, petioles are absent in some sub-varieties. Leaves are glabrous, shiny, there are leaves with a slight pubescence. The leaves are dark green in color, grow oppositely, the middle vein is pronounced, white. Leaf length - 6 - 8 cm, width - 3 - 4 cm. Flowers are medium, up to 4 cm in diameter, there are white, pink, variegated petals. Seeds are black, small.
You can learn more about what pink catharanthus is and how to care for it here.
Apricot
The apricot catharanthus is a subspecies of the Mediterranean catharanthus. The variety is classified as decorative indoor perennials. In the southern regions, they are planted in open ground, like an annual flower. Belongs to evergreen dwarf shrubs up to 12 - 15 cm high. Stems are long, exceed 50 cm in length, spread.
Differs in delicate apricot-salmon flowers. The flowers are large, 5-6 cm in diameter. Flowering begins in late spring and lasts until early autumn. The variety is thermophilic. Does not tolerate drafts and cold winds. Usually grown in spacious hanging baskets, in warm climates grown in open ground, in flower beds and in front gardens.
Seedlings of pink and white, red and apricot subspecies of the Mediterranean series can be planted in each pot or flowerpot to create a multi-colored Mix. Caring for such a Mix will be simple:
- fertile soil;
- warm landing site;
- sufficient air humidity;
- moderate watering.
Flowers of the same shape, but different colors will look spectacular and colorful in the same pot or in the same flower bed.
More details about different varieties and types of catharanthus can be found here.
Fight disease
When a disease occurs, the catharanthus sheds its leaves, parts of the plant are covered with a coating of various shades or are affected by flying insects.
Types of cultural diseases and how to deal with them.
Leaf rust
It is manifested by the appearance of brown dots, tubercles on the surface of the leaf plate or its back. The cause of rust is the flooded earth with a simultaneous high humidity of the air, transplanting the plant into an infected soil mixture.
How to cure: it is recommended to spill the substrate with a liquid containing fungicides or transplant it into completely new soil. Remove the affected areas of the culture to healthy tissues, treat the wounds with healing preparations.
General lethargy of the plant
Drooping foliage, yellowing and dropping of leaf plates, buds are associated with an excess of direct sunlight, hot air. It is recommended to shade the plant or move the pot to a shaded place. The yellowing of the tips of the foliage of the catharanthus occurs due to low humidity. It is worth installing an additional source of water or increasing the number of sprays of the plant, arranging once a week for the flower to bathe in warm water to protect the earthen coma from waterlogging.
Poor bloom
Most often caused by hypothermia of the plant. The culture container should be placed in a warmer place with sufficient sunlight.
If the leaves turn yellow during flowering, you should carefully examine the catharanthus. The cause of the disease, perhaps, lies in the lack of land and the small size of the pot.
The upper shoots shed young leaves, the reason is rare watering of the plant, low ambient temperature, the presence of insect pests.
How to grow a periwinkle?
Growing catharanthus from seeds is most often used by gardeners. The main thing is to buy material from reliable, trusted companies. Further, it all depends on the grower: correct sowing of seeds, planting, care.
Sowing seeds for seedlings
Seeds are sown in the month of February. When growing a catharanthus from seeds at home, you need to understand that the root zone tends to grow strongly. Therefore, it is advisable to choose a larger container. The flower prefers salt soil. Such a mixture is easy to prepare yourself from peat, humus, turf and sand. Prepared soil is placed in a box. Seeds are embedded to a depth of 2 centimeters. Cover with plastic wrap
It is important to maintain the temperature at +25 degrees. After two weeks, shoots should appear
After that, the pot is transferred to a cooler place. It is important to provide good lighting. When there is a lack of sunlight, a lamp is used.
As soon as 3 real leaves appear, a pick is performed: the plants are planted in separate containers. In nice warm weather, the seedlings are taken out to the balcony.
Terms and features of planting catharanthus seedlings in open ground
Catharanthus seedlings are very tender, instantly reacting to temperature fluctuations. Therefore, they are transplanted into open ground in late spring, when the threat of frost has passed. This is approximately the month of May. Outside, the temperature should be about +20 degrees. Before disembarking, a place is prepared. To do this, dig a hole and add a small amount of expanded clay and fine gravel. Next, a mound of earth is poured and a young plant is placed on it. Sprinkle with soil mixture and press down slightly. After the planting procedure, watered moderately.
It should be noted that periwinkle goes well with low annual plants. For example, with lobelia, petunia, marigolds. Catharanthus also looks very harmonious with a perennial purslane.
By planting several types of crops next to each other, you can achieve the creation of a unique composition.
Activities for caring for plants in the garden
On the street, regular spraying of bushes is shown to increase the level of humidity.
It is important not to overdry the substrate. If there is a moisture deficit, the sheet plate begins to curl
In rainy and cold weather, the plant tends to droop, the flowers fly around. For resuscitation, you need to install an awning over the bush.
With the onset of the spring season, fertilization begins. Suitable for this purpose are universal preparations for decorative growing varieties. Ash solution is also useful. The frequency of feeding is once every two weeks. The nutrients are applied immediately after irrigation. Foliar dressing is also often used by gardeners. To do this, use the Epin-Extra solution. They are sprayed with a bush once a month. With the arrival of autumn, fertilization is stopped.
The cultivation technique of the catharanthus also involves pruning. All yellowed, broken shoots and leaves are removed. However, you should not undercut the crop too much. In an open area, the procedure is rather sanitary. It stimulates the formation of new shoots. Such an event is held in the summer. But in indoor breeding, pruning is needed so that the periwinkle does not stretch with one lash. After wintering, the tips of the shoots are removed. Pruning helps to remove flowering.
Periwinkle is recognized as one of the most popular ornamental crops. It is actively grown to decorate garden plots, bred indoors. The plant blooms profusely and very beautifully
But in order for the catharanthus to grow and develop well, it is important to provide him with appropriate conditions of detention. Check out the article: How to plant and grow alstroemeria flowers in your summer cottage?
Florist tips
If the plant cannot acclimate in an open substrate for a long time, it is recommended to transplant it into a container and keep it at home. The reason for this behavior may be the choice of an unsuitable variety - not all types of catharanthus take root in open areas.
Some beliefs are associated with the name of the catharanthus:
-
it is believed that flowers preserve youth and protect the home from evil spirits, intentions;
-
flower helps to resolve quarrels in the family.
Ampel crops are used as a flower fence. Plant boxes are placed on the top of the fence from the inside. The hanging whips of the flower remain intact or are fixed with a net, various holders in a variety of colorful patterns.
In flower arrangements, it is worth using a catharanthus of the same variety, but with a different color of the petals. It goes well with balsam, periwinkle.
How to sow catharanthus and other spring flowers, see the video below.
Varieties of catharanthus
The most popular are the following varieties of catharanthus:
Aristocrat
The bush is 50 cm high, with large flowers 5 cm in diameter. The color of the flowers varies from white to deep red with a red center. Suitable for growing in a flower bed and at home.
Pacific
Shrub 20-30 cm high and 15-20 cm in diameter. Early variety, with large flowers. The variety has the following varieties:
- Pacific Burgundy - burgundy flowers with a white center;
- Pacific White - white flowers with a red center;
- Pacific Epricot - apricot color with a red eye;
- Pacific Ice Pink - light pink flowers with a red center.
Cooler
The bushes are highly branched, the height of the bush is up to 40 cm. Flowers with a diameter of 5 cm with a bright center. This varietal series includes the following types:
- Cooler Grape - pink-lavender flowers with a red eye;
- Cooler Pepermint - white petals with a red eye;
- Cooler Red - the flowers are red in color.
Cascade
Ampelny varietal series. Bushes up to 15 cm in height have long flexible creeping or hanging shoots. Flowers with a diameter of 5 cm. The series was bred for growing in hanging flowerpots. This series includes:
- Bark Cascade Lilak — bush height up to 20 cm, width 80-90 cm. Pink flowers with a red center. Flower diameter 5 cm;
- Cascade Strawberry - has immunity to late blight, high tolerance to hot climate and direct sunlight;
- Peach Blush cascade - height of bushes 30 cm, length of shoots -30 cm, peach-colored flowers;
- Cascade Magent - bush height up to 40 cm, flower diameter 3-4 cm.
Summing up
Katarantus can be found in many gardeners. All thanks to easy care and lush and vibrant flowering. The plant is practically odorless.
Some useful tips from florists:
-
- With the arrival of warm days, it is recommended to take the flower outside. In this case, its flowering will be more active and saturated. You can plant a flower in a basket or whatnot on a loggia (balcony).
- Very often, flower growers throw out a flower that has not wintered well. If the rest period still went well, then all its stems must be cut off.
- High humidity leads to the appearance of fungal diseases. They appear in the appearance of brown spots on the leaves. Therefore, carefully monitor the humidity.
- At high temperatures indoors or on the face, flowering will be more active.
- As mentioned above, the catharanthus is poisonous. For this reason, it is better to protect children and pets from accessing it.
